Term 2, Week 4

School Vision Statement: To change the world through our faith in Jesus who is our light.
Phone: 6882 2677 or 6882 2653
Email: stjohnsprimarydubbo@bth.catholic.edu.au                    
Principal: Mr. Anthony O’Leary
Parish Priest: Father Greg Kennedy           
P&F Meetings: 2nd & 7th Tuesday each term

Parents/guardians-Please note that photographs of students may be used in publication. Please advise the School Office if you do not approve of your child’s photo being used.

Term 2 Dates

Week 4
Tuesday 20th May - School Photos Booked - Full Formal Winter Uniform
Sunday 25th May - Meeting for Mass
Week 5
Monday 26th May - Kindergarten 2026 Sibling Interviews Commence
Monday 26th May - Regional Final AFL Paul Kelly Cup - Girls team - Orange
Week 6
Tuesday 3rd June - Eisteddfod Choir
Week 7
Monday 9th June - King's Birthday Long Weekend 
Wednesday 11th June - Polding Cross Country
Week 8
Monday 16th June - Eisteddfod (Speech and Drama)
Tuesday 17th June - Eisteddfod (Speech and Drama)
Wednesday 18th June - Eisteddfod (Verse Speaking)
Thursday 19th June - Eisteddfod (Speech and Drama)
Friday 20th June - Eisteddfod (String Ensemble)
Friday 20th June - Kindy 2026 Interviews
Week 10
Tuesday 1st July - SJP Athletics Carnival
Wednesday 2nd July - Semester 1 Student Reports - Live on Compass
Friday 4th July - Final Day of Term 2

Change of Details, have any of your details changed??
Please inform the school office if you have Changed address, have a new email or phone contact number, changed jobs, or have different emergency contacts for your child/children.

School Photo Day - Tuesday 20th May
Children are to wear full winter school uniforms, including blue long sleeve shirts for girls and boys. Kindergarten children will need to bring their sport uniform in a bag to change into after photos for their gymnastics program. Sibling Photos will be taken in the school hall from 8.00am-8.45am. Parents are required to park off site and bring their children to the hall for photos.

School Fees
Instalment 2 Fees were emailed on Friday, 9th May 2025 and are DUE Friday, 23rd May 2025.

For families making regular, weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments please ensure your payment plan is on track to have your school fees account finalised by 30 November 2025.

If you wish to discuss your account please contact the Fees Office on 6884 8504 or email m.lew@bth.catholic.edu.au.

Welcome to Week 4
We begin Week 4 with a great sense of pride and gratitude following a joyful and spirit-filled Catholic Schools Week. A heartfelt thank you to our Religious Education Coordinator, Mrs. Clifford, whose passion and leadership brought together our entire staff team to create a week full of memorable activities and celebrations. The week highlighted the joy, purpose, and deep community connections that a quality Catholic education provides. Thank you to all families for your support in making it such a special time.

School Photo Day – Tuesday
Tomorrow is School Photo Day, always a highlight for students! As this marks the beginning of formal uniform days each Tuesday and Thursday, we ask for your support in ensuring students wear their full formal uniform, including school tie and black shoes.
At St John’s, we take great pride in the presentation of our uniform as a symbol of our shared commitment to high expectations, unity, and school spirit. Thank you for helping us uphold these values.

Step into a World of Pure Imagination! 🍭
Join us for a deliciously magical journey in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical, a heart warming and hilarious stage production bursting with colour, charm, and unforgettable songs. We are very excited to share with you updated information for this year's musical - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We have finalised our dates for Term 3 - Week 2. There will be 2 days of performances. These are:

• Monday 28th July

• Tuesday 29th July

When young Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to the mysterious and marvellous Wonka Chocolate Factory, he embarks on an adventure beyond his wildest dreams. Alongside four other lucky children, Charlie discovers a world of chocolate rivers, nut-sorting squirrels, fizzy lifting drinks, and the unforgettable Oompa Loompas.

This vibrant musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved tale combines dazzling sets, toe-tapping tunes, and a cast full of energy and spirit. With lessons about kindness, honesty, and the power of imagination, this is a treat for all ages.

🍬 Don’t miss your chance to see the magic come to life on stage – grab your golden ticket and join us! Tickets for the evening and matinee performances will be available very soon via 123 Tix. 

Each grade will be performing a song during the musical. The exciting songs are:

Kindergarten - The opening number ‘Lollipop’.
Year 1 - I want Candy
Year 2 - More of him to love  
Year 3 -  The Candy Man
Year 4 - Auf Weidersehen
Year 5 - Vidiots
Year 6 - Juicey

Meeting for Mass – This Weekend
We warmly invite all families to join us this Sunday for Meeting for Mass at St Brigid’s Catholic Church. This beautiful tradition allows us, regardless of faith background, to gather as one school community and share in the celebration of the Eucharist.

It is always a special time to reflect, pray, and connect as we strengthen the spiritual heart of our school. We look forward to seeing you there.

Every Day Counts – But So Does Getting Better!   At St John’s, we are proud of our ongoing focus on strong student attendance, knowing that every day of learning matters. Regular attendance helps our students feel connected, achieve academic goals, and build positive relationships with peers and teachers.

However, with the cold and flu season approaching, we are also mindful of our duty of care and the need to protect the health of all in our community. If your child is unwell, especially with flu-like symptoms, we ask that you keep them at home to rest and recover.

If your child does require a few days away due to illness, a doctor’s certificate is always welcome to  support their absence—if attainable.

Let’s continue to work together to balance strong learning routines with safe, healthy habits.

* Aim for full attendance when your child is well
* Keep children home when genuinely unwell
* Provide a doctor’s certificate where possible

Thank you for your continued support in nurturing both the wellbeing and academic success of our  students.

Striving for 95% Attendance – Let’s Keep It Up!
We are delighted to share that every grade has now achieved over 90% attendance – an incredible milestone that deserves celebration! Thank you to all students, parents, and carers for your continued commitment to attending school every day.

In recent weeks, students have shared how much they love:

• Seeing their friends every day
  
• Feeling confident in their learning
  
• Not falling behind in class routines
  

Every day at school is a chance to learn, grow, and thrive. Let’s keep the momentum going as we work towards our whole-school goal of 95% attendance. Every day counts!

Annual School Improvement Survey – Your Voice Matters
The Annual School Improvement Surveys have now been distributed by the Catholic Education Office, Bathurst. These are available to:

• Parents and carers
  
• Staff
  
• Year 5 and Year 6 students
  

We deeply value your feedback and encourage all members of our community to take part. Your insights help shape the future of our school by guiding our continuous efforts to enhance student learning, wellbeing, and community connection.

Thank you in advance for sharing your voice and supporting our shared mission of excellence at St John’s.

Gospel and Reflection - John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment: love one another.

Family Connection
Is love the first word your family members use to describe their interactions? Love is difficult. Jesus' sacrifice for us is an example of this. Yet because of love, the glory of God is fully revealed in Jesus. God's glory is revealed in us when we act as the Body of Christ, as individuals and as a community. In the love we have for one another—difficult, challenging, sacrificial love—we find Jesus.

Choose one or two occasions when your family was together during the week. Describe the family's interactions from an outsider's perspective. When is it less difficult to show love to family members? When is it more difficult? When love is difficult, what do we do?

Jesus didn't just tell us to love one another. He showed us how to love one another. In what ways did Jesus show us how to love? (in his acts of healing and forgiving; at the Last Supper as he washed his disciples' feet; in the gift of the Eucharist; through his death on the Cross)

Enrolments Now Open for Kindergarten 2026 at SJP! 🎉
We are currently taking enrolments for Kindergarten 2026 at St John's Primary School (SJP). If you know families with children ready to start school in 2026, please spread the word and share the great things happening at SJP!

Come and experience our warm, welcoming community and pick up an Enrolment Pack today. Let your friends and family know — now is the perfect time to join the SJP family!

📍 Contact the school office for more information or to book a tour.

God bless and have a wonderful week

Mr.O’Leary

The Sacrament of Confirmation: Enrolment Masses have begun
Enrolments for the Sacrament of Confirmation for Catholic students in Year 6 began over the weekend. Parents if you missed the opportunity to attend an enrolment Mass over the weekend, another enrolment Mass weekend is being held this coming weekend - 24th/25th May (which coincidentally is also our Meeting 4 Mass date). 

Parents of Year 6 students wishing to make this sacrament must attend a Mass to enrol in the sacrament. Please note, it would be greatly appreciated if families could arrive 5-10 minutes early to mark your child’s name off and collect 2 prayer cards for the children to write their name on. These will be given out during the mass. 

All families who have registered interest in their child receiving this sacrament at the Parent Information Meetings at the beginning of the year, should have recently received an email from Sacramental Coordinator Rosalie Hosking, which included all of the necessary information required to prepare for and receive this sacrament. If this is not the case, please contact Rosie on: sacraments.dubbo@cdob.org.au

Meeting 4 Mass
This Sunday 25th May at 9am, St. John’s Primary will very proudly lead the Mass at St. Brigid’s Church. All families are invited to attend and should have received an invite from class teachers to ensure you are aware of the invitation to Mass.

We are very grateful for the families who attended Meeting 4 Mass in Term 1, and look forward to seeing even more families attend this term. 

Please save the date on your family calendar. If your child would like to be an active participant in the Mass - carrying the Offertory or reading a Prayer of the Faithful, please remember to return your rsvp note specifying your child’s interest in carrying out a role of responsibility.

MASS TIMES
St. Brigid’s Church: Saturday - 5:00pm, Sunday - 9:00am and Sunday- 5:00pm.
St. Laurence’s Church: Sunday -7:30am and Wednesday 9.30am

Please note the following change: Mass times from 3rd May: Weekend evening masses will be at 5pm from 3rd May until the end of August.

Catholic Schools Week Wrap-Up
Here are a few pics of us celebrating Catholic Schools Week. To those within our community who were able to visit us during the week - thank you. Our partnership with you is invaluable and we thoroughly enjoyed sharing a couple of special moments with you. 

Our Liturgy focused on the theme of being “Guided by Faith, Inspired by Hope, Committed to Learning” and our numerous other activities gave us the opportunities to connect and celebrate. Many photos were posted on the SJP Facebook page. You are encouraged to check them out!

Enjoy your week.

Paula Clifford
Religious Education Coordinator

2025 Dubbo Eisteddfod 
We’re continuing to work with great enthusiasm on our eisteddfod pieces during CAPA lessons and I couldn’t be prouder of our students! Their dedication, teamwork and growing confidence are a joy to see. They truly are winners already, no matter the outcome.

As we head into performance season, please take note of the following venue details:

🎭 Events at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre do require tickets to be purchased. (3-6 Primary Choir, Years 2,3 and 5 Verse Speaking, String Ensemble)
🏫 Events held at the St John’s Primary School Hall are free and do not require a ticket. (Kindergarten Nursery Rhymes, Year 1, 4 and 6 Reading Solos, Musical Scenes)

The Programs for the Eisteddfod can be accessed here. You can see the session in which your child will be performing : https://www.dubboeisteddfod.org.au/2025-programs

Admission (DRTCC)
Tickets go on sale Thursday 22nd May @ 9:30am and can be purchased from DRTCC Box Office or ordered online – please see details below

Admission: $6 (adults, seniors, pensioners and children 6 years and over) Order your tickets online at

1. https://drtcc.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/sales
2. Type in Search - Eisteddfod
3. Select which session you wish to attend
4. Payment of your tickets. (Please note: you will have 20 minutes to complete your transaction)

The Dubbo City Eisteddfod organisers have also asked that we make you aware of the below information for events held at The DUbbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre. 

PHOTOGRAPHY AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS
For the safety and privacy of all participants—especially minors—and in compliance with child protection laws, the use of mobile phones, cameras, and other recording devices is strictly prohibited during performances at our events. This policy is in place to protect children at risk, safeguard privacy, and ensure adherence to legal requirements regarding image and video recordings.

Attendees are strictly prohibited from taking photos or videos during performances. Failure to comply with this policy may result in removal from the venue.

Entry to the DRTCC or any other Eisteddfod venue signifies your acceptance of these terms and conditions.

• MOBILE PHONES, SMART PHONES and PAGERS are to be turned to silent whilst in the venue.
• NO FOOD OR DRINKS PERMITTED INSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTRE OR THEATRE.
• PUBLIC TOILETS ARE NOT TO BE USED AS DRESSING ROOMS.
• PARKING- Parking around the DRTCC is TIME LIMITED. Please be mindful of parking restrictions. Parking at Number 1 oval may be available.
• REFRESHMENTS – Coffee, food, snacks and cold drinks are available in the Oxley Room.

Charism Cup
Last Friday, students brought great energy and teamwork to the Charism Cup as they put their throwing and catching skills to the test in games of league tag and T-ball. It was wonderful to see all students getting involved, encouraging one another, and enjoying the day.

Congratulations to our Spirit Award winners for the week – Rianna, Lottie, Dimity, Chloe, Jathun, Taj, Yuvi, and Lewi – who proudly represented their team’s charism. Well done!

Current Leader board:

• Titans – 12 points
  
• Eagles – 11 points
  
• Warriors – 10 points
  
• Lions – 9 points
  

Great effort from all teams – we’re looking forward to seeing the competition heat up next week!

SPB4L Fortnightly Focus: Leaving School Safely
This fortnight, our SPB4L (School-Wide Positive Behaviour for Learning) focus is on Leaving School Safely. We are encouraging all students to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others during this important part of the school day.

To support this, students are being reminded to:

• Walk sensibly from their classroom with their teacher at the end of the day.
  
• Focus on where they need to be and avoid distractions.
  
• Walk directly to their designated pick-up location—whether that is the pick-up bay, bus bay, or another pre-arranged spot with you.
  

By following these expectations, students help ensure a smooth, calm and safe dismissal process for themselves, their peers, and all families collecting children.

Thank you for your continued support in reinforcing these safe habits at home. Together, we can make sure that every student finishes their school day on a safe and positive note.